The hunt is well and truly on to sort out the judging panel on both the UK X Factor for the next series, as well as the line-up for the inaugural US X Factor, launching at some point later in the year.
It has been a hot topic of discussion for months now, ever since Simon Cowell announced that he was bringing his flagship show over to America, after his departure last year from the American Idol fold. Gossip columns and the rumour mill have been working overtime as they try to piece together who may get the prestigious job of appearing on the judging panel on a show that is guaranteed a massive audience across the entire of America upon its launch.
I found out today that alongside Simon Cowell, the US show will have notorious and highly respected Los Angeles record label boss and producer L.A. Reid, with the two female slots due to be announced in a matter of days. Cheryl Cole is still apparently in the running for the slot, and other high profile names being thrown around are Nicole Scherzinger, Katy Perry, Rihanna and Paula Abdul. I for one would love to see Cheryl Cole get the job, for the obvious reasons, as well as Katy Perry.
However, I think that it might go to Paula Abdul first and foremost, due to the close working relationship she enjoyed with Simon throughout their American Idol years. As for the second slot, I would hope that the programme bosses see sense and give Cheryl a chance, as she would go down a storm. Rumour has it that half the decision makers are sold on her, yet the other half want a big, household name in the States.
I don’t think Rihanna would do it, and I have a feeling Nicole may do the British version when it launches over here again. That would suggest that Katy Perry could be in with a shout. In the hope that Cheryl may be successful though, I would like to see the panel looking like this . . .
L.A. Reid / Paula Abdul / Cheryl Cole / Simon Cowell
If Cheryl doesn’t make the cut, it could well be Katy Perry, with Ms Cole playing the “Sinitta role” of mentor to Cowell’s acts on the show.
That would then ask the question as to who takes over on the British version? Part of me thinks Simon could still choose to do double duty and do both the British and the US versions of the show simultaneously. Presumably Louis Walsh will be back as he is popular, along with Danni Minogue.
Louis Walsh was removed once before, and it just didn't work, with him soon returning to the panel thanks to popular demand from the viewers. As far as I am concerned, he is pretty secure in his job, and will be going nowhere for the forseeable future, probably not until he himself wants to leave the show.
The question therefore is who will be joining him?
However, I would like to see Nicole Scherzinger and/or Katy Perry (with Cheryl slotting in on the US show) do it, as they were both brilliant last time when they stepped in during Danni’s pregnancy/Cheryl’s malaria illness. Part of me thinks it could be time for Danni to leave the panel and allow bosses to spice it up a bit, especially with the chance that the UK show could lose both Cheryl and Simon this time around.
Whether the panel (or the budget!) would be big enough for both Katy Perry and Nicole Scherzinger would be another question, but let’s face it, they would guarantee huge ratings each week, and people would love them. Remember, they have the credentials too, have experienced the show, and Nicole even picked One Direction with Simon last year, recently suggesting to the media that the groups creation was her initial idea.
It will be an interesting announcement when it does eventually come. Both of them would also welcome spending more time in this country presumably, considering they both have British boyfriends, and would be a wise choice for the panel.
Louis Walsh / Katy Perry / Nicole Scherzinger / Simon Cowell
The question would then be if Simon wanted to do double duty, even if he had a private aircraft on standby? If not, who would fill his massive shoes? Nigel Lythgoe is probably not “hip” enough anymore, and who else could do it? That would be a massive concern for the producers. Would George Michael do it? Elton John probably wouldn’t go near it with a bargepole, and the only other person I could think of that would be a big enough star to do it would be Gary Barlow.
He would be brilliant on it as well, but he has enough on his plate with the Take That reunion it seems for now.
Perhaps he will be one for future years though?
The only suitable option to me would be to move heaven and earth and get Gary Barlow in there.
He is an incredible talent, and has an eye for unearthing others, as well as the necessary credentials. He has been hugely influential on the pop landscape over the years, and someone who has been there and seen it all in an illustrious career. Robbie Williams would also do a good job I think, but he may be too much of a liability/livewire, for the producers to want to risk putting him into the mix. He often has a tendency to look like a rabbit in the headlights, and that sort of approach wouldn't go down too well I fear. However, Gary would be a real diamond in the X Factor crown, if they were able to tempt him to consider a role.
Either way, it looks like the US panel will be decided in the next few days, and we can’t be far off knowing who will be on the UK panel this time either.
Watch this space!
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